Re: buying cars
A car that can take you form point A to B in most cost effective way is the best choice. UNLESS like many desi's, the car is an extension of your personality and a status symbol, then you have to worry about other things.
My advice;
Toyota and Honda are most reliable and hold their value over time
Hyndai gives a lot more for your money
Eurpean cars are too expensive to fix and you get lot less for your money
GM family cars have the lowest cost of parts
Ford has longest lasting engines
Honestly, look at your 'transportaion' needs/requirements first and narrow down the choices to one or two type; such as compact car or small suv then select a few brands such as Toyota RAV4, Chevery Camaro. Be sure to account for gas expenses, auto fixes, oil change, etc. when making your selection to ensure that you are within the budget. Once you have done all that look at your personality/status needs and see which one of the selected ones fit your needs.
Often people select cars/suv for looks/show and forget about the long term financial implication. My brother bought a BMW top of the line 5 series and two years later, he is still paying the bills and has same ole friends, same ole income and nothing to show in reality. If he had put the same money in 401K or somehwere else the money would have grown.
All the best.